Signal



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H. R. BORCHARDT May I9, 1925.

SI GNAL '7 Sheets-Sheet- 7 Filed July 28, 19M

#Karawane (5m *6M/4K4 Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES isaasvs A PATENT orifice.

SIGNAL.

Application led July 28, 1921. Serial No. 488,217.

T 0 all whom t may concer/n.:

Be it known that I, HERBERT R. Bonen- AnDT, a citizen of theUnitedStates, residing at Hollywood, Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angelesand State ofl California, have invented certain new-and usefulImprovements in Signals, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to signals for autornobiles, motor boats,aeroplanes, etc., but is more particularly intended for automobiles, andhas for its object to provide such a device to be attached at or .nearthe dashboard where it can be easily observed by the operator, as wellas by pedestrians, either in front or behind the machine, andby thedrivers of other automobiles.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a signal which istelescopic in structure and may be extended or collapsed at will.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which .issuitably wired and provided with electric light so that it may be usedat night, and vwherein contacts are provided for automatically closingthe proper circuits when so used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal arm which may beraised or lowered or held horizontal, either electrically ormechanically, to indicate the drivers intention to turn to the right orleft or to stop.

Another object of the inventionis to provide such a signal arm in whicha plurality of lights are arran ged lengthwise of the arm in order thatits angular position may be determined at night.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description when taken `in connection'with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of an automobile equipped with my signal.

Figure 2 is a part sectional view yof the signal arm in collapsedposition.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the signal arm, the arm beingextended.

Figure 4; is a. view similar to Fig. 3, ther arm being collapsed.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5 5,

Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section throughv through aV modified arm, thearm being extended.

Figure 11 is a similar section, the arm being collapsed.

Figure 11ya is a detail view of the gearing. Figures 12, 13 and 14 aresections through a modified form of extension transmission.

Figure 15 is a section through the base section of a modified form ofarm.

Figure 16 is a section similar to Fig. 15,

showing a slightly modified base section.

. Figure 17 is a framentary plan view of an` automobile showing mysignal in extended position.

Figure 18 isa fragmentary view of the elevating mechanism.`

Figure 19 is a diagrammatic view ofthe electric circuits; and,

Figure 2O is a detail section of a latch mechanism.

Referring to the drawing more in detail the' numeral 1 designates anautomobile to which my signal 2 1s attached. The signal comprises an armcomposed of three telescopic sections 3, t and 5. These three sectionsalthough differing inshape in some instances, are common to each of themodified forms shown. The three sections when not in use are collapsedas shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

To extend the sections of thearm I have provided extension transmissioncables 6 andrk 7. The cables 6 are attached to the drums 8 on the shaft9 and extend over pulleys 10, and are then attached adjacent the lowerend of the intermediate section 4. Cables 7 are secured to the lower endet section 3, pass over pulleys 11 carried by the intermediate section 4and are secured to the base of the outer section 5. A drum 12 is alsocarried on shaft 9, and to this drum is secured a return transmissioncable 13, the opposite end ot' this cable being secured to the base ofthe outer section 5. It should be here noted thatthe drum 12 is of twicethe diameter ot drums 8, and also that drum 12 is wound in a directionopposite to drums 8.

To extend the arm 2 from the collapsed position shown in Figs. 2 and 4tothe extended position shown in Fig. 3, it is only necessary to turnshaft-9 in the proper direction. rllhis movement causes drums 8 to windup thecables G and thereby extend section 4. Through the extension otsection 4, the cables 7 extend 5the outer section 5 rtwice the distancethrough which the section 4 is moved. In this manner the arm iscompletely extended.

"Io retract the arm 2, the shaft 9 is turned in a reverse direction, andthe drum 12 "winds up the return transmission cable -while drums 8unwind to permit the arm to collapse. Forthe purpose of rigidityinopcration, the section 5 is provided with the flanges 5a.

To maintain'the return transmission cable in the center line of the arm2, I have provided thegnide l'block 14, which is mounted kon'stay rod15. Intermediate section 4 is cut-away at 16 to accommodate stay rod 15whenitherarm is completely collapsed.

The shaft 9 torextending and collapsing the arm 2 maybe operated eitherelectricall-yor mechanically. Forlthe purpose of `electrical operation Ihave provided the motor 117 which'may'be'controlled by means of buttons17 n and 17b on the steering post. rlhe spindle et motor 17 carries abevel gear 18 in mesh with bevel'gear 19 `on shaft 20. The opposite endof shaft 29 carries a bevel gear 21 which meshes with bevel gear 2201i.the shaft 9. Should-it be `desired to extend and collapse the armmechanically due to the failure ot electricity or for any other reason,an extension 23 et `the shaft 9 may be provided with a `crank arm orwheel (not shown).

To open the circuit when vthe signal arm 2 hasbeen extended-thc desiredamount the intermediate section 4 is provided with a sliding `contact(not shown). rlhe retracting circuit is also provided with a slidingcontact for a similar purpose.

The arm 2 as a whole is mounted on brackets 24-24 adjacent the driversseat, and may be raised or lowered or placed in hori- Zontalpositionbyimeans ot the toothed seglment cr rack 25 rigidly mounted onshatt 2S of the signal. Iinion 27 is in mesh with the toothed segment 25and is provided with an operating handle 28. Suitable spring stops 29(Fig. 20) are provided on bracket 24 for engaging depressions 29 on thesegment 25 and thereby releasably hold the signal arm in its adjustedposition. It will be understood ot course that a motor 74 with limitcontacts may be used, if desired, in place of the manually operatedcrank arm 2S. A reversing switch 74 (Fig. 17 is shown for controllingthe motor.

For use at night it is essential that the signal should be lighted. Tothis end I have provided the cuter section 5 with a substantiallydisc-shaped head 30 formed with three openings 31 on each side. The bodyof the outer section is likewise provided with three openings 82.extending through both side walls. Located Abehind 'these openings 31and 32 areelectric bulbs (not shown). The bulbs inthe head 30 each havea distinctive color, for instance, one being red, one yellow and theother green. The three bulbs in section 5 are formed with the same threecolors. The two bulbs of the same color are placed in the same circuit,three circuits being provided. These circuits are closed and openedautomatically as the signal arm 2 is moved -to its different positions.Referring -to the diagrammatic view shown in f Fig. 19, 33 is astationary contact while the arm 2 carries the three contacts 34, 35 and3G. Numeral 37 indicates sliding contacts for closing the lightingcircuits when the signal -is extended and breaking them when the signalis collapsed. Reference character 87a is a switch for shutting oft thelights duringthe day. Letter A designates the electric bulbs.

rlhe circuits are arranged so that when the signal arm is in horizontalposition the yellow bulbs will be lighted; in the upper position thegreen bulbs `will be lighted, and in lower position the red bulbs willbe lighted.

Figs. 6, 7 Sand 9 show a modified form oit the invention. In this formof the invention the sections, 4 and 5 ot the signal arm 2 are squareinstead bt circular. On the lower side of the intermediate section 4 issecured the rack 38. In mesh with the rack 3S is a pinion 239 carried byshaft 40, the latter being rotatably mounted in an cxtension o'tthoinner hase section 3. Shaft 49 also carries a gear wheel 41 in mesh with`gear wheel 42 on shatt 43. Also mounted on shalt 43 is a bevel gear in.mesh with bevel gear 45 on shatt 4G; a bevel gear 47 secured on shalt4G is in mesh with bevel gear 48 mounted on shaft 49. 0n sha 'l' t 49 isalso mounted the retracting drinn 50.

Pulley 51 is mounted on the outer end ot the intermediate section 4, andover this pulley extends the cable 52, one end of which is anchored tothe basel et the outer section 5, the other end being anchored to theouter Eil l'lll end oit' the base section 3. The retracting-transmission cable 53 is. also attachedto the base `of the outersection 5 and extends thence around the guide pulley 54 and is securedto the winding drum: 50. Shaftk46 of course may be operated by motor orby hand in the same manner as described in connection with the formshown. in Figs. l and 5. I f

In this form of the. invention closing the motor circuit causes rotationof the pinion 39y andextension `of intermediatesection 4, and throughcable-52 an extension of section 5. A reverse movement of the operat`ing mechanism, causes drum to wind up the retracting transmission cableand thus collapse the signal arm 2.

The lighting arrangement tor this form of.E the inventionand for theother forms to be later described is identical with that de*- scrihed inconnection with Figs.' 1 to 5. This form of the invention is alsoprovided with sliding or limiting contacts as described in connectionwith Figs. 1 to 5. An advantage of the foregoing arrangement of theparts is that the signal is madesmaller than is possiblein the formpreviously described.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have shown a slightly modified form of theinvention. This form is identical with the disclosure in Figs. 6' to 9inclusive except that a transmission cable 55, pulley 56`and drum 57have been substituted for the 1ack and pinionl there described. f

The modified form shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14 is substantially the sameas that shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. In this form however thewinding drums 58 instead of being on the main shai'thave been placed onstub shafts 59 operated by bevel gears 60 and G1 from the main shaft 9.'By so arranging the winding drums 58 they are located in the same planewith the pulleys 10. In this `form also the winding drum. 12 has beenmoved slightly to one side so that one edge et the drum is in the centerline of the arm 2, and the guide pulley 14, shown in Fin'. 2, may bedispensed with.

In the -term shown in Figs, 15 and 16, the intermediate section 4 israised .and lowered by means of a rack and pinion 62 and 63respectively. The pinion 63 is mounted. on a stub sha-'ft G4 and isoperated through bevel gears 65. 66 und 67, and bevel'gears 68 and 69from the. motor operated shaft 9. In the YVVhile-I have shown only asingle arm on Ithe drawing it is to be understood that an arm may beplaced on each side of the car and raised or lowered by a common oper`atingdever- In such case couplings will be installed so that eithen armmay be disconnected.

Assuming the arm 2 collapsed andin hori` zontal position; if the driverintends to stop the machine he presses button 17u which through motor 17extends the signal arm. The arm may then be retracted by pressing button17 b. If the machine is being operated after dark the switch 37a should`be closed so that when the arm is extended the sliding contacts willcomplete the circuits and light the electricbulbs inthe arm.- On turningto right or left the switch 74L is also operated to raise or lower thearmf 2, and in so doing it closes the circuit through the green erredlights with vwhich the arm is equipped.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described what I nowbelieve to be the movement 'of an inner seetion'for kmoving the next`outer section at an increased rate of speed.

2. In a direction signal, a` plurality Ot telescoping sections, eachsection being operatively connected with the next outer section wherebymovement of any section moves the next outer section at twice its ownrate of speed.

3; A direction signal comprising` a plurality of relatively slidablesections, a pivot support therefor. and a catch operable to hold saidsignal in a plurality ot signaling positions about its pivot.

4. In a direction signal, aw plurality ot slidahle sections eachnormally supported independently oi the others'. and means connoctingsaid sectirms whereby movement oi" an inner section auses movement ot`an outer section at an .increased rate ol speed.

5. An. automobile signal iizcluding a pivoted arm conuiosed ot aplurality ot tele- .scoping sections. means tor extending said sections,means for retracting said sections,

said last-named means including a cable, and means for adjusting saidarm on its pivot. y p

6. An automobile signal including a pivoted arm composed a plurality oftelescoping sections, means for extending said sections including` arack and pinion, and meansy 'for retracting said sections including acable.

7. signal urni comprising; a plurality et telescoping Sections, a` cablehaving its ends attached to two of the sections, a pulley mounted onanother of said sections, the cable passing over the pulley, and meansfor extendiuigthe section to which the pulley is attached.

S. A signal firm comprising' u plurality of telescopingl Sections, ncable having its ends attached to two ot the Sections, n pulley inountedon another of Suid sections, the cable puesing1 over the pulley, and it'rack und pinion 'for extending` und retracting the section to which thepulley is attached.

9. A signal comprising a plurality of sections, u cable having its endsattached totWo oit the Sections, u pulley mounted on another section,the cable passing over the pulley, Ineens for extendingand retractingthe scctio'n carrying the pulley, and means for retractingone of thesections to which the cable is attached.

10. A signal comprising u plurality of Sections, a cable having* itsends attached to two of the sections, a pulley mounted on anothersection, the cable passing orcr the pulley, means for extending` andretracting the sections carrying' the pulley, und u cable for retrectingone ot the sections to which the tiret-mentioned cable is attached.

H. R. BORCHARDT.

